Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council Opposes Amendment 4/Hometown Democracy

On April 12, 2010 the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council adopted a resolution opposing Florida Constitutional Amendment 4 (also known as "Hometown Democracy") after hearing presentations by both supporters and opponents of Amendment 4.

During TBPRC's meeting on March 8, the Council heard presentations in opposition to Amendment 4 from Ron Weaver (an attorney with the law firm of Stearns, Weaver, Miller, Weissler, Alhdeff & Sitterson) and Ward Friszolowski (former mayor of the city of St. Pete Beach).  During the April 12 meeting, a presentation was made in support of Amendment 4 by Robert Weintraub (see photo), Chair of the Florida Sierra Club's Growth Management Committee and an officer of the Nassau County Group of the Sierra Club.  Mr. Weaver also voiced a brief rebuttal to some of Mr. Weintraub's arguments.

The Council's resolution opposing Amendment 4 listed in detail its opinion that a variety of negative consequences would result from the passage of Amendment 4, and emphasized the Council's opinion of the importance of citizen participation in the current local government planning and approval process.